Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Only the very best books get the ‘Books Worth Staring At’ sticker, and here’s the latest to achieve this…

The book: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Published: 2015, by Canongate

Why we loved it: Depression isn’t exactly an easy thing to talk about, as the (wrongful) stigma that surrounds all aspects of mental health can be quite overpowering. But that shouldn’t be the case. With depression now the leading cause of death for men under 35, it’s time we learnt to talk about this issue.

Huge credit must therefore go to novelist Matt Haig for writing the excellent Reasons to Stay Alive. It’s kind of a memoir, kind of a self-help guide, with Matt describing his experience of depression that began in Ibiza when he was 24, and the road to recovery that has led him to being one of Britain’s most celebrated authors. As you’d expect, it’s sometimes a difficult and dark read, but it’s also a very funny, warm and full of hope.

Talking about depression is essential, and books like Reasons to Stay Alive are vital for getting the conversation going.

To find about more about this book, there’s a brilliant extended extract on Guardian Books.